Shark Attacks

This is the second series of the awarding winning US legal drama Shark, which stars the legend that is James Woods ably supported by the likes of Jeri Ryan, Sophina Brown, Sarah Carter, Henry Simmons and Danielle Panabaker.

The first series saw viewing figures rise steadily as we followed the life and times of Sebastian Stark played by James Brown. This legal eagle had passed over from the defence arena to that of state prosecutor and while he does not do everything by the “book”, he has a success rate which few in the business can match.

Tonight’s episode sees Stark looking into the death of an investigative journalist, a murder which opens up a Pandora’s Box of scandal and intrigue. The murder sees a fitness trainer pulled in for questioning before a corrupt medical examiner appears on the scene, at which point the fun really begins. Murder, intrigue, scandal and suspense - Shark really has everything, and all in just sixty minutes.

The show has been a massive success in the States and was responsible for the re-launching of James Woods career. The acting is excellent from all of those involved, the stories will keep you on the edge of your seat and you will not know who actually “did it” until the very end and whether they will pay the price.

While CBS in the States originally bought just 22 episodes of Shark, they were soon persuaded that the show had a real future and commissioned the second series. It has been moved into a prime time slot in the US and Channel 5 has given it a top slot in the UK. When you consider that the likes of Law and Order is one of the longest running shows on TV, there’s no reason why we can’t see an extended life for Shark.

Disappearing London

London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, and has a history packed with interesting stories and details. Disappearing London takes a look at what made London what it is today and the problems which the traditional elements may face in the future. The programme takes a look at the London of old - the last of the capital’s rag-and-bone men, the traditional hatter’s shops which have adorned the city for centuries, and the Italian coffee houses that are still around today and may be under threat.

London has a population of over 7 million but this number is much higher when you consider the surrounding areas and new suburbs. Interestingly, the capital has a sub-economy and a sub-climate all of its own, with numerous research projects revealing that the city absorbs heat in the day time and emits it at night.

It will be interesting to see exactly what is happening to our great capital city, and how its history impacts on the metropolis we see today.

Hollyoaks Teaser

Tangled love lives are taking their toll on the residents of Hollyoaks this week, not least for Steph who is worried that Max will find out about her kiss with Niall. Of course this being Soapland it’s not long before her secret is a secret no more. When Mercedes blabs all in Il Gnosh, Dominic feels it is his duty to tell Max. With a devastated Max refusing to listen to Steph’s explanation, could this be the end for the duo’s relationship?

Kieron finds his friendship with Niall put to the test after Niall finds out about his affair with John Paul. Niall promises to keep quiet about the relationship, but it may not make much difference anyway. As Kieron tells a gutted John Paul that he’s not willing to sacrifice his vocation for him, they’re both unaware that Michaela has heard every word.

Elsewhere there’s a new man about the town - Rafi, whose cocky attitude gets him the doorman job at The Loft. When he drops by The Dog later in the week, he finds Darren reducing shifts for his staff. And when a nervous Darren asks for the payment for putting Jake in the frame for Sean’s murder, Rafi realises that life in a small village is more interesting than he expected…

Coronation Street Teaser

There’s all kinds of building-related drama going on in Weatherfield this week, mainly concerning the Peacock-Webster house exchange. Sally excitedly gets to work planning the decor for her new home, ignoring the minor fact that the property is not hers yet - but then Claire throws a spanner in the works by claiming that the Websters owe them more money. It looks like the exchange is in danger of falling through - unless the bickering women can put their differences aside…

More progress is being made regarding Liz and Harry’s secret relationship. Harry claims that he and Liz are just friends, but Dan is not convinced. When he ‘accidentally’ tells Steve that Harry and Liz are having a cosy dinner in the flat, Steve is incensed and heads round there to have it out with Liz. Is he going to find her cheating on Vernon?

Michelle returns from Ireland to discover that Leanne is the Rovers’ latest barmaid - how will she cope with the competition? Molly and Tyrone have an argument over their house’s stone cladding, while the Barlows face chaos after their lounge ceiling springs a leak. Paul decides on drastic measures to avoid justice, much to Molly’s concern. And Roy is unamused when Becky and Jason patch things up.

Emmerdale Teaser

Doug attempts to smooth the troubled waters between Ashley and Laurel this week, but to no avail. Fortunately, hope for the couple comes in the form of the Bishop, whose advice that the children will suffer encourages them to talk. But when no common ground can be found, Laurel retreats to Betty’s - leaving Ashley to fend for himself.

Meanwhile, Andy, already furious with Debbie’s continued presence in Sarah’s life, is sent over the edge by Jo’s defiant attitude regarding the future of the goats. When Jo ends up in hospital with a broken wrist, Andy lies to a concerned Diane that Jo fell - but the truth is that he’s broken his promise never to hit his wife again. Has Andy’s quick temper ended his marriage?

Elsewhere, things get worse for Viv and Bob as the police investigation into Freddie’s disappearance continues and their business begins to suffer. Viv decides to take matters into her own hands by paying a key witness a visit - but the woman’s testimony seems to throw serious doubt on Viv’s claims of innocence.

Also this week, Val’s attempts to win the Woolpack the coveted title of Village Pub of the Year are thwarted when the Dingles steal its furniture. Katie is not happy when Gray comes to an arrangement with Perdy - and is even more disturbed when she catches him in a compromising situation with her. Pollard frets about Val’s extravagant wedding plans. Jo gets some good news. And Gabby’s behaviour worries Ashley - but has surprising consequences…

EastEnders Teaser

The green-eyed monster makes an appearance in Albert Square this week as Sean notices that Jack and Tanya seem to be becoming more than just friends. The pair have been growing closer ever since Max left, and it all gets a bit much for Sean when he clocks them flirting and flies into a jealous rage.

It’s not all bad news for Cupid though - it looks like there may be love in the air as Minty and Heather begin to bond. Could the big lug actually be falling for the karaoke queen? Unfortunately things take a turn for the worse when a heartbroken Heather catches her daft beau kissing another woman. While Heather tries to make sense of this latest drama, a chastened Minty is distressed to realise the pain that he has caused her.

There is also drama for Chelsea this week, as her birthday brings an unpleasant surprise. Garry’s head is in the clouds as he rues his missed opportunity with the air hostess. Darren and Libby kiss and make up. Zainab cooks a special meal for her family. And Roxy continues to struggle with her news.

PartyPoker.com European Open IV

The phenomenon that is poker suffered a major set-back when the US authorities outlawed online gambling, but there is still a great deal of interest in Europe where the final stages of the PartyPoker.com European Open IV get under way with a record prize pot of some $504,000 up for grabs.

Last year’s runner up, Darren Hickman, will be hoping that he can go one step further and snatch one of the largest prizes in world poker, but the other four finalists will have something to say about that.

There were many people who believed that live poker would not be transferable to the big screen but recent advances in technology and a handy camera under each players “hand” allows those at home to watch the games unfold in detail. Many live poker shows are also lightning fast at showing the odds for each hand on display and the chances of winning the pot. From the luxury of your own home you can check who has the best chance and who is bluffing.

While the early rounds of these large live poker competitions can be a little tedious with literally hundreds of players on show, the final few tables are where the real fun happens. Even though it is not the same as actually being there or playing, you can sense the tension as the final hand draws closer. Who will be there at the end? Will some blow it with a winning hand?

Anyone who has played poker online or offline will know that it’s a very unpredictable game - even those with the best hands do not always win the chips. More and more viewers are also finding that live tournaments are a great way to learn the game and the many strategies involved.

EastEnders Teaser

Roxy’s trip to the hospital last week paid off to some extent - she met a dishy doc. Now, hoping to learn about the medic’s bedside manner, Roxy lines up a date. But things don’t go as planned for the randy raver - do they ever? In fact, she’s in for one or two surprises - some more welcome than others. It’s clear that Roxy has a lot of thinking to do.

There’s another fairly big storyline for Heather coming up. Step forward the wonderful Heather Trott, played to absolute perfection by actress Cheryl Fergison. She came for a week as a one-note comedy sidekick for the equally fabulous Shirley Carter. We thought she was just another dowdy, tubby girl - a cut price Cilla Brown. But she’s lasted the course and this week Heather tries to become a domestic goddess. However, Shirley soon ruins her plans. Heather’s further efforts fall somewhat short when she and Shirley are arrested after a boozy night out. The dynamic duo spend the night behind bars and both make some life-changing decisions…

Elsewhere, Wellard goes missing. This may come as no surprise to fans - the mutt seems to go missing every other week. Of course, the pooch is found - but he’s not made very welcome. Dawn’s attempts to play matchmaker for Mickey don’t quite go to plan. Christian causes chaos when he takes over Roxy’s shift at The Vic. And Dot and Tanya discover they have something in common.

Neighbours Teaser

Steph has decided that she wants to marry Ramsay Street’s resident loser-in-love Toadie. As you can imagine, he is over the moon. But his happiness is shortlived. Having made big wedding plans, the Toadster is rocked by Steph’s decision to have but a small, low-key ceremony. Toadie wonders if she really wants to get married, and his thoughts turn to his ex-wife Dee who was killed in a car crash. Now he revisits the scene of the accident to say his last goodbyes. Meanwhile, Libby forces Steph to make her mind up about her fiance.

Disturbing flashbacks of the roof collapse at the dance party have been tormenting Elle. Riley suspects she is hiding the extent of her trauma. Indeed, Elle struggles to get a grip as Paul forces her to seek the help she needs. Unfortunately his meddling infuriates Elle and leads to a deep rift between father and daughter. Rebecca intervenes and convinces Elle to seek Karl’s help in dealing with the post-traumatic stress. Paul feels frustrated and powerless at being left out of his daughter’s treatment, while Rebecca is alarmed when Elle’s therapy reveals some deep-seated fears about her father. Can she keep these revelations to herself? Meanwhile Riley tries to maintain his distance from Elle, but finds that his feelings only intensify as their separation continues

Elsewhere, a positive pregnancy test forces Rosie and Frazer to confront their conflicting feelings about parenthood. Rosie’s fears about having a baby clash with Frazer’s enthusiasm. Frazer is eventually forced to confront her with a shocking plan: he will raise the baby alone if necessary. Rosie refuses to be pressured by Frazer’s ultimatum, and even wonders if their marriage is over. But when her class action suit with the parents of the kids caught in the roof collapse brings her into contact with a grieving mother, Rosie gains a new insight into what it means to be a mother.

Emmerdale Teaser

Freddie has disappeared into thin air. The police aren’t doing too much about it, so a distraught Viv has taken matters into her own hands. Frantic, she distributes e-fits of Freddie door-to-door, and even accosts a stranger thinking it is Fred. This stranger is about to call the police, but Bob manages to persuade him to back off. It goes from bad to worse for poor Viv when Donna and Ross find a pile of unopened bills addressed to Viv at an empty house belonging to Freddie. Viv panics and heads to the house with Bob - but both are arrested. The couple must take their place in a line up. Will they be cleared?

The fairly confusing baby swap storyline continues apace. On the morning of the hearing, Ashley fails to convince Laurel to attend. Instead, she bumps into Greg and spends the morning with him looking through pictures of Daniel. Ashley returns from the hearing and is put on edge by seeing them together. He explains that Mel and Arthur will have to have a DNA test once they return. Later, Ashley attempts to smooth things over with his wife, but puts his foot in it by mentioning Arthur again. Laurel says that she needs more time. Can the troubled couple pull their marriage back from the brink? Meanwhile Greg grows more and more worried when he speaks to Mel’s mother who hasn’t seen or heard from her.

Elsewhere, there are happier families over at Shadrach’s when Gennie and Brenda turn up. Brenda apologises for getting off on the wrong foot. After settling down to see baby photos of Gennie, the Dingles persuade Brenda and Gennie to stay for dinner. Can Shadrach finally be a father to Gennie? Pearl is sick of being harrassed about the cruise but Lily is undaunted. Pearl shows Rodney her list of possible candidates and they discuss the pros and cons. Who will be the lucky winner?